Taro is exceedingly confident his war machine is going to win this war single-handedly. Even in a video game fantasy world, that’s really fat-fetched. Even in this comic update by itself (“… and this is your remaining energy.”), it’s really far-fetched.

If he wasn’t such an evil brat, he’d be more pitiful for his delusional overconfidence than despicable.

When the engineers of your death weapon are trying to get as far away from it as possible, it’s time to ask at gunpoint what’s going to make it explode instead of strapping in. I’m sure this was part of your dad’s lessons on the day he died.

Taro has a point. Assume that the professors know that there’s a critical flaw in the design, or that they’re even trying to sabotage the engine. Any other co-pilots would go in blissfully ignorant, but Franz and Mich would know exactly what to do, and would do it unless they’re willing to sacrifice themselves.

Now, I don’t actually think they’re trying to sabotage anything, and I don’t think Taro would have suggested this if the intended co-pilots had been there. He just loves being a sadistic tyrant, whether it makes sense or not. But he does have a point.

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